Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993 TAG: 9310280006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In Bedford County, a 21-year old bowhunter was standing on a homemade portable stand when an eye-bolt straightened, toppling him 35 feet. He broke his back in two places, fractured his ribs, punctured a lung and ruptured his spleen.
The two accidents have state game wardens warning outdoorsmen about the dangers of hunting from high places.
"I look for us to have a bunch of tree stand accidents this year," said Lt. Dennis Mullins, the warden who investigated the Botetourt accident.
A couple of things are happening: Growing numbers of hunters are watching for deer from tree stands and many of those stands are unsafe or are being used in a careless manner.
The Bedford accident could have been avoided if the hunter had used a safety belt, said Sgt. Ron B. Henry, the investigating warden. The archer had patterned his stand after one of the commercial lock-on models, but "the material he used was kinda shaky at best," said Henry.
Wardens reported that an inadequately anchored step played a major role in the Botetourt County accident, but the archer said the fall was triggered when he was startled by a raccoon in his stand.
"There was a rock at the bottom of the stand, and evidently he fell on that rock," said Mullins. "He laid there for a good while and hollered and no one answered."
The hunter then slowly pulled himself along a fire trail and was discovered six hours later by a neighborhood youngster on a bike.
\ STRIPER SEASON: The saltwater striped bass fishing season opens today and holds promise of offering some of the best sport in decades. And that could be just the start of good things to come.
Restrictions and restockings have helped this popular species return from years of over harvesting. Stripers had their best hatch in years this spring.
Regulations remain tight. The season is short, lasting through Dec. 19, and you can keep fish only Thursdays through Sundays. The limit is two.
If this season patterns like the past couple, the best sport will begin about mid-November around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. But an interesting thing has happened. The coast experienced a heavy blow this week, and that could send striper migrating south earlier, said Claude Bain, director of the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
Scattered schools already are providing modest sport for anglers tossing surface lures.
"If there is a more exciting way to catch them, I don't know about it," Bain said.
\ BASS PROWLING: Cooler temperatures have sent bass and crappie toward the shallows in several impoundments.
At Kerr Lake, anglers have been hooking largemouth bass while casting Speed Shads and Rat-L-Trap lures. Good crappie catches are coming from Eastland and Butchers creeks.
Bass fishermen at Lake Gaston have scored with silver-colored lures, such as the Speed Shad and Shad Raps. Plastic worms also are productive.
Striper fishing at Smith Mountain Lake appears to be impressive one day, slow the next. One angler weighed a 16-pound, 10-ounce muskie at Campers Paradise.
Crappie fishermen are doing well at Philpott Lake, while bass anglers still find their best results after dark.
Fishermen baiting with large minnows have been hooking largemouths at Briery Creek Lake.
Rock bass are the hit at Leesville Lake. Several over one-pound have been taken.
The action at Claytor Lake revolves around stripers and catfish, while the New River is producing catches of modest-size smallmouth bass. One angler reported hooking and releasing 23.
by CNB